Linksys Wireless Router As Access Point?

Hello,
I currently work in a local, small-fry computer store attempting to
compete with larger stores in the area like Staples, OfficeMax, Office
Depot, Circuit City... (Fortunately Best Buy and CompUSA are more than
an hour's drive away!)

As a salesperson/technician, I'm paid to be adequately familiar with
our products, among other things. And I feel that I know more about
most of our products, generally, than a Staples, OfficeMax, Office
Depot, Circuit City, and Best Buy sales employee's knowledge about
their own products - combined. But nobody's perfect, and so I'm no
expert on wireless (is anyone?). Today I had a question that I
couldn't answer without more than a few minute's research, can you
guys help answer it?

"Can a wireless router be used in place of a wireless access point to
'mirror' a signal and widen the range of the wireless network?"

It made sense to me that there should, it seemed logical to me that a
wireless router is merely a regular router with an access point
built-in, and even my Linksys WAP11 at home will let me do this.
Multiple access points - broaden the range. (Or at least that's my
understanding, I've never tried it. Yo no tengo dinero.)

Reason that the customer asked me this is that most of the larger
stores are starting not to shelve many access points, at least here,
wireless routers are targeted more to beginning wireless networkers...
additionally, we - at the time, at least - were out of stock of the
WAP11 and WAP54G, and we normally carry Linksys - and D-Link and
Microsoft (and that, sadly, is it - such philistines we are... tsk.)
Customer was in a real bind and needed such a device by tomorrow (too
late now) and thus was grasping at straws. Can anyone name any models
that can be used like this, or doesn't it exist? It would be great if
there were, someone in an emergency doesn't always care about price,
and if it's overkill, who cares?

- Greg

Greg Ember wrote:

> "Can a wireless router be used in place of a wireless access point to
> 'mirror' a signal and widen the range of the wireless network?"
>

An access point simply connects wireless to an existing network and yes, you
can often do that with a router.

What he's looking for is a repeater.

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

(E-Mail Removed) (Greg Ember) wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed). com>...
> Hello,
> I currently work in a local, small-fry computer store attempting to
> compete with larger stores in the area like Staples, OfficeMax, Office
> Depot, Circuit City... (Fortunately Best Buy and CompUSA are more than
> an hour's drive away!)
>
> As a salesperson/technician, I'm paid to be adequately familiar with
> our products, among other things. And I feel that I know more about
> most of our products, generally, than a Staples, OfficeMax, Office
> Depot, Circuit City, and Best Buy sales employee's knowledge about
> their own products - combined. But nobody's perfect, and so I'm no
> expert on wireless (is anyone?). Today I had a question that I
> couldn't answer without more than a few minute's research, can you
> guys help answer it?
>
> "Can a wireless router be used in place of a wireless access point to
> 'mirror' a signal and widen the range of the wireless network?"
>
> It made sense to me that there should, it seemed logical to me that a
> wireless router is merely a regular router with an access point
> built-in, and even my Linksys WAP11 at home will let me do this.
> Multiple access points - broaden the range. (Or at least that's my
> understanding, I've never tried it. Yo no tengo dinero.)
>
> Reason that the customer asked me this is that most of the larger
> stores are starting not to shelve many access points, at least here,
> wireless routers are targeted more to beginning wireless networkers...
> additionally, we - at the time, at least - were out of stock of the
> WAP11 and WAP54G, and we normally carry Linksys - and D-Link and
> Microsoft (and that, sadly, is it - such philistines we are... tsk.)
> Customer was in a real bind and needed such a device by tomorrow (too
> late now) and thus was grasping at straws. Can anyone name any models
> that can be used like this, or doesn't it exist? It would be great if
> there were, someone in an emergency doesn't always care about price,
> and if it's overkill, who cares?
>
> - Greg


Greg, my Linksys WAG54G is a Wirless Access Point, Router and ADSL Modem all in one.

I am pretty sure all Wirless Routers have a built in AP to boost signal stength.

Cheers

Tom

On 11 Feb 2004 05:04:12 -0800, Thomas Tonneson spoketh

>
>
>Greg, my Linksys WAG54G is a Wirless Access Point, Router and ADSL Modem all in one.
>
>I am pretty sure all Wirless Routers have a built in AP to boost signal stength.
>
>Cheers
>
>Tom

If the "wireless router" didn't have an AP built in, it wouldn't be
wireless...

Lars M. Hansen
www.hansenonline.net
Remove "bad" from my e-mail address to contact me.

(E-Mail Removed) (Greg Ember) wrote:


>
>"Can a wireless router be used in place of a wireless access point to
>'mirror' a signal and widen the range of the wireless network?"
>

Yes,but you may want to turn off the dhcp (in the router). That way
you would be on the same sub-net. If you just plugged in the router it
would give out it's ip addresses and these (may) be different that
what your network is using.. Also if it happens that they are both in
the same range (group) you could end-up with duplicate ip address
being given out.

James Knott <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<oCoWb.2605$(E-Mail Removed) e.rogers.com>...
> Greg Ember wrote:
>
> > "Can a wireless router be used in place of a wireless access point to
> > 'mirror' a signal and widen the range of the wireless network?"
> >
>
> An access point simply connects wireless to an existing network and yes, you
> can often do that with a router.
>
> What he's looking for is a repeater.

And I did everything except use that word. Gee.

Okay, rephrase: I can put my WAP11 into something akin to repeater
mode, I believe. Can I do that with any wireless routers, too? If not,
which ones?

- Greg

gene martinez wrote:
> (E-Mail Removed) (Greg Ember) wrote:
>
>
>
>>"Can a wireless router be used in place of a wireless access point to
>>'mirror' a signal and widen the range of the wireless network?"
>>
>
>
> Yes,but you may want to turn off the dhcp (in the router). That way
> you would be on the same sub-net. If you just plugged in the router it
> would give out it's ip addresses and these (may) be different that
> what your network is using.. Also if it happens that they are both in
> the same range (group) you could end-up with duplicate ip address
> being given out.

And you have to use it as router, not gateway.

--
Diederik

Greg, just wondering, why do you say that Staples employees are not as
proficient in their knowledge of PC's etc? I have always had really
good expeiences w/ my local store. Now, I don't know about any of the
other chains, best buy, etc. But I have been happy with the
associates at my staples...

bencon wrote:

> Greg, just wondering, why do you say that Staples employees are not as
> proficient in their knowledge of PC's etc? I have always had really
> good expeiences w/ my local store. Now, I don't know about any of the
> other chains, best buy, etc. But I have been happy with the
> associates at my staples...

Ask yourself a question. If they're really knowledable, why are they
working in Staples. The tech support guys may be OK, but likely not the
clerks.

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:56:54 GMT, James Knott spoketh

>bencon wrote:
>
>> Greg, just wondering, why do you say that Staples employees are not as
>> proficient in their knowledge of PC's etc? I have always had really
>> good expeiences w/ my local store. Now, I don't know about any of the
>> other chains, best buy, etc. But I have been happy with the
>> associates at my staples...
>
>Ask yourself a question. If they're really knowledable, why are they
>working in Staples. The tech support guys may be OK, but likely not the
>clerks.

Because they were laid off from IBM? Considering the high unemployment
of knowledgeable IT workers today, I wouldn't be surprised to find some
at Staples or McDonalds...

Lars M. Hansen
www.hansenonline.net
Remove "bad" from my e-mail address to contact me.